The Nightmare Incarnate is dark, brutal, and utterly gripping. Finch weaves horror and fantasy together in a way that feels both chilling and cinematic—every scene crackles with dread and intensity. The world is terrifyingly vivid, the characters raw and desperate, and the pacing relentless. A haunting, unforgettable read for fans of dark fantasy that pushes boundarie

Alright, so first off, this is a debut, and you can tell. There’s something here though, which is why I stuck with it. With a solid edit and maybe a few more beta readers, this could really land. I think I would make amends and relaunch before book two and maybe market both books at same time.

The worldbuilding is ambitious, the author is clearly swinging for the fences and sometimes it hits, but sometimes it just kind of... doesn’t. I found myself wanting more grounding, more texture to really sell the setting.

Character wise, Donovan could be interesting, but right now his actions and motives felt a bit all over the place. I just never fully connected with him and not enough personality coming through on the page.

The last section though was pretty good. The cliffhanger left me curious for book two.

That said, there’s a LOT of repetition of phrases, descriptions, character behaviour and after a while it got distracting. An editor could smooth that out and tighten everything up.

So yeah, cool concept, some nice moments, but overall not one that’s going to stick with me for long

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

"The king is dead. Long live the king."

I really enjoyed this book - I had high hopes coming into this and I was not disappointed. The Nightmare Incarnate by W.G Finch proved to be a well thought out novel filled with intricate details, detailed writing and deep characters motivated by true human desires.

I really enjoyed the writing which set a serious tone throughout the novel; however was occasionally witty and funny. I disagree with other statements of 'repetitiveness', I think the writing set the dark tone nicely and added to the inner turmoil of the characters. (My personal opinion).

I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. While not as flashy or death-defying as other books, The Nightmare Incarnate's closure felt neat and satisfying while promptly provoking feelings of 'what comes next?!?'.

Donovan was by far my favourite character. His human desires and struggles felt so innately human that I felt sorry for him. This was especially true at the end of the book. I did also like Mae, however her portrayal felt slightly undecided - she sometimes feels unbreakable but suddenly she is a crying mess of a small girl. I felt that duality could have been utilised better as I felt her lack of constant character to be confusing. However, it did also add to the emotional turmoil of the book and the events that were taking place.

This book is perfect for fans of: Dark themes, rebellious gangs/uprisings, multi-povs, battle with identity and morality.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and of course, W.G Finch as well.

Donovan has been taken in as an Enforcer in his Uncle's gang and after several screwups he's pretty much on his last legs as far as his Uncle is concerned. Donovan must hunt down the Renegades and bring the location of their hideout to his Uncle before his Uncle has him killed. Unfortunately, for Donovan he's pretty much the worst gangster in existence and he gets captured by the Renegades instead. Horrible gangster withstanding though Donovan is very good at surviving and he sees a silver lining in his capture as long as he can convince the people he's been trying to kill up until very recently not to kill him.

Prince Lorenzo is the epitome of a spoiled prince. Spending most of his life drinking away he all of a sudden has taken an interest in politics. That interest being unsettling his father King Erod whom he views as an ineffective wastrel at best. With the whole kingdom mortgaged to the powerful Cyrus Gold Lorenzo begins scheming with the beautiful Marabella, but as she lays out plans for an assassination Lorenzo realizes that he may not be quite cut out for this game of thrones.

This is a 3.5 stars rounded to four. The characters hold quite a bit of promise as well as the story does but I see this being a down the road thing. Lorenzo and Donovan especially had incredibly contradictory personalities and while Donovan does see some growth towards the end of the book his character is very oddly written throughout most of it. One second he hates being a gangster the next he's plotting to get back into his Uncle's good graces. Lorenzo is just an absolute moron and I believe he was meant to he written that way. He's a selfish, spoiled brat who is clearly being taken advantage of. Cyrus Gold reminded me of Scrooge McDuck. Genuinely, he's even got a giant money bin.

The thing that really got me here though is I never felt like anything was really that bad, it was difficult to take Gold seriously as this horrible face of capitalism, Gianni Winters, Donovan's Uncle and the Nightmare Incarnate never came across as very intimidating. We get some glimpses into why this kingdom is as bad off as it is but not enough for me to support anyone, including the Renegades, who are these Robin Hood like characters.

That all being said I believe the story had promise. I think if it had been a little longer that would have helped significantly. I also think that Finch is truly onto something here; no one in this world is inherently good and thats a hard thing to establish in a book, especially if its your first one. So I will read be reading book 2.

As always thanks to NetGalley and Victory editing for the eArc!

Such an eloquently written book. With touches of the renaissance, this book has something for any type of reader!

This book plunges readers into a kingdom teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, following three very different protagonists—each trying to exploit the crisis, whether for personal gain or for the people. Who to root for is never clear. Every character has their own goal, yet they repeatedly fail—sometimes out of naivety, arrogance, or simply a lack of understanding of the intricate situation.

That’s what makes the story so compelling: you root for them, hoping they’ll recognize their mistakes and grow, only to watch the situation spiral further out of control. It’s an exciting, unpredictable ride, full of twists and moral complexity. A fresh, innovative voice in fantasy, with challenging, fascinating characters that will keep you hooked on their long and surprising journey through a vividly imagined new world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

Set in an impoverished yet picturesque Renaissance city, ”The Nightmare Incarnate“ intertwines the lives of three protagonists: a revolutionary plotting a bank heist to ignite a revolt, a mobster yearning to escape gang life, and a young prince determined to protect his nation from chaos. Their stories inevitably converge, forcing each to confront the reality that their ambitions can only be realized if the others fail.

The blurb promises a sweeping, morally complex tale of ambition, betrayal, and survival—layered with political intrigue and set against a lush, southern Europe-inspired backdrop.

⸻

What Worked

• Atmospheric setting
The Renaissance-style city is vividly imagined on paper, with touches of grandeur crumbling under poverty. You can almost picture the marble courtyards, salt-streaked harbors, and shadowy alleyways.

• Potential for moral complexity
The premise of three competing protagonists, each with mutually exclusive goals, is inherently compelling. In theory, it should have produced delicious tension and high stakes.

⸻

Where It Fell Short

• Clunky, unnatural dialogue
The conversations often felt stiff, as if characters were reciting plot points rather than speaking with organic voices. This made interactions feel hollow, undermining emotional beats and character relationships.

• Unlikable, thinly drawn characters
None of the leads offered a point of connection. While flawed characters can be fascinating, these felt unrelatable and at times inconsistent. Without a reason to root for, or even understand, them, emotional investment suffered.

• Misleading title
The book is named after the syndicate boss, yet he isn’t the protagonist or even the most active driver of events. This creates an expectation that’s never fulfilled, leaving the title feeling more like a marketing hook than an organic fit.

• Too much “tell,” not enough “show”
Key moments were explained rather than experienced. Instead of being immersed in tension, danger, or emotional struggle, I often felt like I was reading a summary of what happened. This “deadly sin” of writing stripped the story of urgency.

• Weak character motivations
Ambitions were introduced but not convincingly justified. Characters often shifted goals or convictions abruptly, which made their choices feel plot-driven rather than arising from believable personal stakes.

⸻

Overall Impression

The Nightmare Incarnate had the foundation for a rich, layered political-crime drama. Unfortunately, its execution lacked the nuance and emotional resonance to make the most of its intriguing setup. The setting is vivid, but the people inhabiting it never come alive. With clunky dialogue, inconsistent motivations, and a tendency to tell rather than show, this is a story that struggles to engage beyond its initial premise.

Final Verdict: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
If you’re drawn purely to lush Renaissance-inspired worldbuilding, there are glimmers of interest here. But if you need strong character work, compelling dialogue, or a payoff matching the promise of the title—you may walk away unsatisfied.

While I’m grateful for this arc, this book wasn’t for me. It’s definitely a series that would hit with those who are younger. The cover and title invoked vibes that were totally different than the story it was telling and ultimately I couldn’t get into it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First I want to start off by saying I am really sad I didn’t enjoy this book because the title, description and cover were really fun! I love a debut novel but this lacked any direction with the plot and was very repetitive.

The attention to detail in the landscapes and surroundings was done well I just wish that energy was put in other parts of the book. I had trouble connecting to any of the characters and they all seemed one and the same personality wise.

I understand there being a cliffhanger at the end but it just reads as if the author did not tie up loose ends and continued on as if two of the main characters were forgotten. It read more as a book that was not finishing vs a cliffhanger. The backstories and characters changing their minds/attitudes towards certain situations suddenly was just hard to follow. Also the mentioning of the same details over again just to have nothing happen in relation to them was odd.

Overall this book did not stand out to me and lacked depth. The attention to detail was there but not placed appropriately, this book definitely leans more to teens than young adults.

A new and innovative voice in fantasy that is worth checking out. Interesting and challenging characters that you will enjoy following on a long and surprising journey through a new fantasy universe.

This debut novel by W.G Finch had heart, but not the depth I was hoping for.

The Nightmare Incarnate is the authors first novel, and I want to give credit where credit is due. Bringing a fantasy world to life on the page is no small achievement. There’s clearly effort here to create a layered kingdom with political tension and personal stakes. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite work for me.

The pacing felt very slow, and the plot never fully hooked me. What really held me back though, were the characters. The main cast comes across as immature and emotionally erratic, making it hard for me to stay invested in their journeys. Their inner monologues swing so wildly, from self-aggrandizing ambition to violent resentment. I often found myself confused or frustrated by their choices rather than intrigued or invested.

The writing style felt repetitive at times, and some of the phrasing bordered on awkward or overly theatrical. There were moments that pulled me out of the story, details reintroduced unnecessarily, or dialogue that didn’t sound natural on the mouths of the characters.

I also could help but notice the sidelining of the female characters, who often felt treated as secondary to the male leads. Most of the emotional weight and agency resides with the men, while the women primarily serve as the motivation or obstacles in their paths. It left the world feeling a little flat and even outdated.

That said, I can see this book resonating more with a younger audience or readers newer to fantasy, especially if they’re drawn to court intrigue, internal drama, and morally gray characters. It has the seeds of a compelling story, it just didn’t go in a direction that worked for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest thoughts and feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Some books ask for your attention. This one demands your involvement.

W.G. Finch drops us into a fractured world and says, “Keep up.” No prologue to hold your hand. No exposition-dump to catch you up. Just a revolutionary trying to light the match, a mobster looking for a way out, and a prince who thinks he can save what’s already burning. They each want something—freedom, redemption, control—and the cost is steep. The payoff is brutal.

The writing is intelligent without being showy. Atmospheric, grounded, deliberate. And yet somehow—still alive. The dialogue snaps. The politics bleed into the personal. The setting drips with tension, like something holy rotting from the inside out. Every corner of this world feels thought through, even when we’re only given a glimpse.

What I loved most? Nobody is safe. Not physically. Not morally. No one comes out clean. You’ll trust someone and regret it three chapters later. You’ll question motives, loyalty, and yourself. There’s something thrilling about watching it all fall apart, not because of evil, but because of belief. Everyone here is certain they’re doing what’s right—and that’s where it breaks.

If you’re looking for cozy, skip this. If you’re looking for a ride that spirals out before it makes sense, but keeps you hooked the whole way—this is it. If book two doesn’t deliver, I’ll riot. But if it does, we might be looking at a modern epic in the making.

Bonus points for including maps (because I still don’t know where I am emotionally, but at least I can trace it on paper).

The Nightmare Incarnate by W.G. Finch is a multi-character perspective story of duality, the battle and the torment of pursing one’s own personal desires in a world that is unforgiving and ready to bring you back down to reality in a moment. It is these characters that drive this story forward, and in-turn create narrative that feels fresh and engaging from the off. It is a solid step into fantasy, with a setting that treads the line between the brutality of the experiences of the downtrodden and the opulence of the out of touch aristocracy.

Let’s talk about these characters first. The story centralisers around a few characters: Donovan, the gangsta and nephew of a crime lord, Gianni the famed, demonic crime lord known as the Nightmare Incarnate, Mae the renegade and Lorenzo the pompous, proud and ambitious Prince of the realm. Finch does a good job of creating characters that exist, breath and act believably and feel like they belong within the world. Lorenzo in particular was a favourite of mine, with his pride, ambition and self-importance making him an intoxicating character, one of which you sympathise with and despise in equal measure. Gianni is admittedly rather cool, and creates a dark figure, whom you can’t help but be interested by – if a bit demonically cliché. Mae and Donovan are definitely given the most air time, and their writing gets stronger as the story progresses (this is a theme of brewing confidence in Finch across the text, which is no surprise for a debut writer). Whilst they are engaging characters no doubt, I did at times find them a touch ‘heroically cringe’. I think in the pursuit of showing their flaws, anger and desires they come out a bit trope-y and it undercuts their potential as rich characters.

Now the setting. The story is set primarily in Sidia Proper, and Finch outlines the world as taking inspiration from the Renaissance period, and features of Southern Europe. I think Finch achieves that well, throughout the book I could envisage the world around me – this was particularly successful in the chapters from Lorenzo’s perspective. I could feel the Mediterranean air on me, and smell the rich glass of red in my hand when reading those chapters. Finch successfully explores and delves into the captivating dichotomy between the dark underbelly and the opulence of the gold coasts of Sidia Proper.

In summation Finch’s debut novel, The Nightmare Incarnate, is summed up perfectly by a character of their own creation. Charlotte says “like a fine wine, it had grown sweeter with age”, and this is how I feel about the story in which she lives. You can feel Finch’s growing confidence as the story progresses, the descriptions more vivid, the world more brutal and the choices more weighty. All in all, this is a book worth your time and one that does find its own place in the world of fantasy stories.

3.75 ⭐️s out of 5.

What a great debut! 4,25⭐️

The book takes us to a kingdom on the brink of bankruptcy and follows three very different protagonists who are all trying to take advantage of this crisis for themselves or the people. It is never quite clear who you are supposed to be rooting for. Each character pursues a goal, but fails again and again, whether out of naivety, arrogance or simply because they lack the knowledge to really understand the complex situation. This is what makes the story so exciting, because you root for them, hope that they will recognise their mistakes and learn from them, and yet everything only becomes more complicated.

I found it particularly interesting how the changing perspectives on the same situation create an incredibly multi-layered picture. This keeps the plot in constant motion and makes it feel very lively. And even if I didn't like every character straight away, I grew fond of some of them over time.

Of course, it all ends with a dramatic cliffhanger, leaving many questions unanswered, and I'm very curious to see what happens in the next book.

Also: we love maps, and this book has not one but two!